Container dispenser



y A. E. LINDSTROM 2,445,958

CONTAINER'DISPENSER Filed June '7, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fl t-Z INVENTOR- fl/va/asw 6. L/NDsTfiOM 'BY J 5 (V V M CONTAINER DISPENSER Filed June 7, 1945 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIE E gM /yM Patented July 27, 1948 I NiITED STATES Paras oFFwE;

CONTAINER DISPENSER Andrew E. Lindstrom, Larkspur, Calif. Application June '7, 1945, SerialNo. 597,993

Claims.

The invention relates to a means of dispensing containers one at a'time from a stack in which the" individual containers are nested one within another. Usually in this type of dispenser, the stack is held vertically with the open side of each container uppermost, and release of the container's is from: the bottom of the stackior del'iv ery'to-a filling mechanism or the like. The dis-- penser of the present invention isparticularl'y designed for dispensing of containers having taperedfsides and" with the" walls thereof of relativelylight material such as paper. Frequently the material is impregnated with wax orotherwise provided Witlr'a protective coating, and due to the very flexible nature of the containers and the presence of thewax or other coating, some ofthecont-ainers in the stack will be invariably nested and Stuck together; In view of this, with dispensers as designed priorto my invention, quite frequently 'twoor more of-the nested containers would be released at one time, thereby not only interfering with the proper and regular delivery of the containers from the dispen'serbut inter fering with the operation of the mechanism to which the containers are conveyed.

It is therefore an object' of the present inven tion to provide a dispensing means of the characte'r described which will positivelyinsure the delivery "of the containers singly andjiegularl'yj provide "a dispenser oithe character described in the stack of. containers will be supported in a positive manner during the repositioning of the container releasingmembers of; the dispenser mechanism. i

The invention ,possesses other objects and features of advantage. some of which, with the vior-e going-,vwi-l-l be set forth pin :the io llowing descrip tionof theipreierred fonm -of the invention which is iiliustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. I :It to be understood; however, :that variations'in .thesshowing made by the said drawings and description inay be adepted within the scopefiof tlhe Yinvention cesarean in theiclanns. 1- I containers 2 Referring to-said drawings: a Figure 1' is a top view of the dispenser: of my: invention. v

Figure 2 is a side view of the dispenser as shown in Figure 1', and with the parts in posi-.

tion oninitiation of a cycle of operations;

Figures 3 to 5 inclusive are vertical sectioned views of the dispenseras illustrated in Figure 2",. but with the parts positioned in different success-1 sive stages of the operation.

Figure 6 is a side view of the dispenser taken at right angles to Figure 4. 1 l

As illustrated in the drawings, the dispenser of my invention in the preferred emhodi-mentincludes' a frame 1 on which the various parts of the dispenser are supported for ositioningover a conveyor or the like upon which the containers are to be deposited for delivery to amechanism such as for filling, capping, etc.

seats in a socket 9- so as to permit the dispenser unit to be rotated into and out of operative posis tion or readily removed when desired. Included as part of the frame is :a pair of sections l2 and I3 arranged in horizontallyopposedrelation and mounted on parallel rods 14 and 1-6 for slid-able movement toward and from each other. .Rod 16 is provided with oppositely. progressing screwthreaded portions 11 and I18 which meshwith correspondingly threaded portions innthe respective sections l2 and 13. A knurled head i9 is affixed to rod I'B inorder .to readily rotate the. rod and thus move the sections :to the desired adjusted position, the rod being held against longitudinal displacement in the frame. Retell. tion of the sections in adjusted position is effected by means of screws Z l extending through apertures, provided in the frame 1, which are .elongated in a direction paralleling the axisof the threaded rod liisand which threadedlyengage the sections 12 and 13 so that, when the latter are adjustably positioned by manipulation of the knurled head [9, the screws :21 may the tightened so as to frictionally bind the sections toithe frame and thereby prevent subsequent accidental relae The frame is supported as here shown by a standard it which the stack in vertical position and provide a guide through which the containers may freely descend.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the containers are arranged to be dispensed from the bottom of the stack and means are provided. utilizing the weight of the containers for effectively supporting the stack and for permitting during each complete dispensing operation the release of the lowermost container in the stack while descension of containers thereabove is positively arrested. As shown in the drawings, the means above comprises a plurality of detent arms 24, a pair of which is preferably associated with each of the sections and pivotally connected thereto by means of pins 26 at the outer end of the arms. radially inward along planes converging toward common intersection with the central longitudi- I movement are slide members 36 each having as The arms are positioned to extend here shown at the lower end thereof a stud 31 designed to engage the detent arms on the associated section and move them out of operative relation with the containers when the slide member is elevated but to release the arms for engagenal axis of the containers of the stack, and are of a length to engage the side walls of the containers when the armsare inclined inwardly at an angle'of about '30 to the horizontal. The arms 24 are preferably weighted to insure firm engagement with the sides of the container. The arrangement of the detents is such that when the latter are in engagement with the side of a container and the weight of the stack is released, the detents, by such engagement, will be forced inwardly radially-of the stack so as to forcibly increase their pressure of engagement with the side of -thecontainer. Thus the detents are capable of securely supporting the. full weight of the stack. 1

The containers 22 with which the dispenser is illustrated in the drawings are of a conventional design and formed with upwardly taperingside walls :21 which permit relative compact nesting in such manner that a substantial portion 28 of each container will becaused to protrude out of the container therebelow. -'It is with the pro truding portion 28 that the detent arms 24 are arranged to engage, and as will be apparent, owing to the zwedging action produced by the weight of the stacktending to force the arms inwardly against the container, a positive stop for holding the stack against descension will be effectively provided when the container is thus engaged. While the detent arms will be effective for supporting the stack, simply by engagement with the smooth side walls of the containers, under some conditions a more positive'engagement with the container sides at a predetermined position thereon may be afforded by providing for engagement of. the arms with the portion 28 at a part having an offset such as for example the external peripheral bead 29 providedin the containers here illustrated and as the complement of the groove3l formed on the inner side of the walls near the rim 32 for the reception of a closure cap. When such beaded type of container. is used, the inner ends 33 of the arms are designed to' preferably engage the lower portion of the bead as well ,as the wall portion immediately thereunder. Desirably the ends 33 are formed with a blunt or nose-like point readily fitting under the bead. However the design of such ends may be varied to more appropriately fit and engage the special form of offset" or surface to be engaged by the arms. l Stops 34 are preferably provided on the frame: sections to prevent the detent arms from swinging too far downward when no containers are within the guideway.

As will be evident,'by. causing the detent arms to engage and gripthe portion 28 of the container nested within the bottom or lowermost container ment with thecontainers when the member is in a depressed position. Reciprocation of the slide members in unison is effected by a lever 38 fulcrumed in a bearing39 of the frame and having arms 4| pivotally and slidably connected, with Oscillation of the lever may the slide members. be provided for by appropriate driving connection.

either independently or in associationwith some cooperating mechanism.

As will beseen,-when the detent arms are moved by studs 31 entirely out of engagement withthe containers, the entire stack will be free to descend through the guideway defined by the posts 23,, and as an important part of -theinvention in its preferred embodiment, there is provided as a part of the means for effecting the transfer of engage;

ment of the'detent arms fromone container to the next, a means which will serve to arrest the descent of the stack when, after release by the arms, it has reached a level such that on the subsequent reentry of the arms, they will engage the portion 28 of the container nested in the container previously released. As shown in the drawing said latter means includes a pair of opposedsupporting arms 42, one oneach of the frame sec tions I2 and I3, and pivotally connected thereto;

by a pin 40 so as to permit the arms to move in or out from under the bottom ofthe stack. Each of the arms 42 as shown in the drawings is formed with" angularly related portions 43 and 44, the

portion 43 being arranged for insertion or withdrawal under the bottom of .the lowermost.con-,,

tainer in the stack and the portion 44 beingad justably secured such as by means of a clamping screw 46 so as to afford adjustment in the amount,

tion being made in such manner that when the members are in a depressed position so that the detent arms will be engaged with the stack, the arms 42 will be withdrawn from under the stack so as to permit the withdrawal of the lowermost cup when unsupported, and conversely when the members are in an elevated position so that the detents 24 are disengaged, the arms 42 will be moved under the stack so as to providea'rest or stop upon which the stack may drop to permit engagement of the detents with the second lower most container; Connection between the'arms 42' and the slide members is here shown' elfected by means of an extension 41 of the arms 42 engaging in a vertically elongated opening 45 in the member above the stud 31. v

As previously explained, dueto tight nesting of:

the containers and the adherence of the waxed the container, ,aboy ,wh'enat pi dQ nfi rm-L l H Q ms42larewith dra a 'QPt t" "e position. ,Breferablysef red to the members 6; p i ihg a bppolsits sit at h s a k, at a m: to l e p r pq iqn of the, emb rs by se se? P s nd engaged b n e 1i ig t m nn as 9 Ur h nwa d ,ben per: tipns 5,2.of .th'e lower ends, of the fingers, easement i h t -s d s 9 he 9 i? a e rta 'e thatthe n np r s'a oathed. th tqn pr riate r a ve. P l

d'spl cement between thecontainers and ngers as. bythe lowering of, the stack with et er n rs. PS iQ m t ,lin ea rt rs w ll. be c a g d rom, oppo ite-th ls desor the owermo t nt in r n h i t hensun o ted ro-t tie-tent Hate ps ethe pp bn Z 310; th ontainer abpve when the stackhas been a s when t s po t fi-t Th o therever e t ve v r iwlrdi a ement s s i as .9 39: IQQ i b e ess o th m mbers 1 6 ixwi h re,- spect tgthestack, the finger portionsfil will en; easesth nr m t r otru n sportion. of th bQttqms on a ner o th t wit he ntainer, above en a d by t e et t an .thelsuppo inearms W thdr w the ngers wi l ea ily and effectiy lyr retract and discharge the bottom container from estack, .n ,7 a

The operation of the dispenser is as follows:

Assuming the slide members about to start on the rip-stroke, the parts will bepositioned as indicated in Figure 2, that is wit h the detent 24 operatively engaged with the lo ermost container, the finger portions 52 inoperatively dis" posed gtpposite the sides oj the containegyand 3151 11 esitign ainer. As the top of the stroke is reached, as illustrated in Figure 4, the deten ts will have moved out of engagement with the bottom container and the stack will have dropped down with the bottom of the container resting directly upon the inwardly positioned supports 42. Also as will be seen, the finger portions 52 have become disengaged from the bottom container and are disposed directly above the rim of such container and against the exposed portion of the container above. It is important to note that although the detents will have become disengaged from the container, before the completion of the upstroke, no raising of the stack by the arms 42 will be entailed since the latter will reach their uppermost position before the slower moving stack will have dropped into contact with the arms. A the slide members then initiate the downstroke, the corresponding descent of the studs 37 will cause the detents to start moving radially inwardly toward engagement with the container bead, the relationship in the positioning and movement of the deten'ts and the par er container engaging, elements h e' in the, form of fin rs lfihp o fi ly fl n he 9 2 pf me less ba i Visi oil n ml to di-spensethe succeeding container plac m nt .sely ear he $1.6 Y, may

n the f am e sa ea lerw hand tdsn eort Me e tam op se idea here asaidrd nt b t theni a nd x nd neupr; DJ at w r ya d in yrmm h ir. n rot n o opera: ti, tht c ta ne .5 5 h t the mar rs wil be x te tg or e ardly a in t the, cont in s wit aipressu repr ortional to that/ i ht of er n: trainers m ans. neratiye to, effect rel se. .of the detentsfrom en agement with the containers; and meansroperative toksupport the containers indepe ldentlysof said de'te'ntswwhen the de-t'ents are disengagedfr-on'i.thejcomtainers. v

2, :In a mechanism for dispensing open con A taii-ners one at a tiineii'rom-a stack of containers arranged in nested relation an'd with a sideportion. oreach'eonta-iner protruding upwardly from the container inwh'i'cnit is nested; 'meansto hold the containers in axially aligned relation anc'i 'for movement along the axis of .the stack to a delivering end of the holding means, detents carried by said container holding means positioned at opposite sides of the containers and movable inwardly to engage said side portions of the containers, said detents being pivoted to the container holding means and extending upwardly and outwardly from their pivots into engagement with said side portions of the containers so that upon movement of the stack toward said delivering end the detents will be urged inwardly into tighter engagement with said side portions under the weight of said stack, means to effect retraction of the detents, means to support the containers independently of the detents when the stack is moved to an advanced position, and means to engage an end container of said stack and separate it from the container nested therein.

3. In a mechanism for dispensing open containers one at a time from a stack of containers arranged in nested relation and with a side portion of each container protruding beyond the rim of the .container \therebelow, means to hold the stack vertically and for vertical'displacement of the containers, detent arms arranged for pcsitioning about thejcontainers for engagement with'said side portions at different points around the periphery and being attached adjacent one endfto said stock holding means for pivotal movement to and from the container portions and for engagement at the other end with said portions at points higher than said fixed points, a vertically reciprocable member having parts positioned to lie at opposite sides of said containers arranged to engage the lowermost contalner in the stack on the downward stroke of the member and thereby separate said container from'the container nested therein, means connected for movement with said member oper ative to retract thearms from engagement with the containers during a portion of the movement of'said member, and means movable with said member and operative to support the containers on disengagement of said detent arms therefrom, but with the containers at a lower level than when supported by the arms.

4. In a mechanism for dispensing open containers one at a time from a stack of containers arranged in nested relation and with a side portion of each container protruding beyond the rim of the container 'therebelow, a relatively fixed frame, guide means in said frame for holding the stack of containers vertically and for vertical displacement in the guide means, detent arms pivoted to the frame for vertical movemerit at 'oppositesides of and adjacent the lower end-of the guide means and positioned to extend upwardly and radially inward for engagement at their inner ends with said side portions of the containers, supporting arms pivotally carried by the frame movable into and out of a position under the stack to support the-same at a height at which the detent arms will operatively engage the side portions of the second lowermost container, a vertically reciprocable member having inwardly pressed and bent parts positioned to lie atopposite sides of-the containe'rs and arrangedto move upwardly over the rim of the lowermost containeron the upstroke and to engage said rim on the downstroke and thereby separate said container from the one above, and means connected-for movement with said reciprocable member operative to move said detent arms from engagement with the containers-and to move said supportin arms into and out of operative position. 1

8, 5. In a mechanism for dispensing .open containers one at a time from astack of containers arranged'in nested relation and with theopen ing uppermost'and a side portion of each con tainer protruding beyond" the rim of the container therebelow, a relatively fixed frame including opposed sections, vertical memberscarried fby said sections defining a guide for the containers at transversely spaced points around the" sides thereofla pair of detent arms pivotally connectf ed to each section and positioned to extend radially inward for engagement at their inner ends with said side portions 'at transversely spaced points on the containers, supporting arms pivotallycarried by fsaid'sections movable into and o'utof a position under'the stack to support the same at a height at which the detent arms may operatively engage the exposed side portionsof the second lowermost container, a vertically reciprocable' member slidably' mounted 'in" each section, inwardly pressed and bentfing'ers car ried by said members positioned to engage the containers at opposite sides thereof, means to reciprocate the members to raise the fingers to a-p'osition above the rim of the lowermost container when the latter is supported on the second mentioned arms and whereby the fingers will engage over said rim and separate said container from the one above on the descent of the members when thelsupporting arms are retract- REFERENCES CITED The following references areof record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS I Number Name Date 1,146,972 Straight July 20, 1915 1,216,417 Cooley Feb. 20, 1917 1,524,420 Bohlman ;J an. 27,1925 1,722,048 Hill July 23, 1929 1 ,927,151 Blasco Sept. 19, 1933 2,221,466 Bereck Nov. 12, 1940 

